Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1887-05-20

share, and now, when the women who |
had so misguided him crowded about
him with wordy rccantations, lie smiled |
at them inserutably, and they were COM ]
forted. They sail among til mseIvcs:
''Ilc took it so lightly, le had never
cared much" Not much-you see there
wasn't the making Of a hero in him. All
the glory was reserved for the men who
had gone away in uniform.
1t was in the third year Of the war
that Randolph Fairfax came home
wounded, not bad y, bat he had fought
sp.endidly and was entitled to a short
respite. lie tried hard to say something
handsome aud grateful to Davenport
about the way he had locked after his
wife and children durn his own absence
in the amy and lie sincerely hoped
those sharp ana foolish words Of his
about Davcnport's beard had died from
his IN mory. They had not-he felt
quito sure Of it when D venport, resting
his blue eyes calmly on him for mo-
ment turned slowly on his heel and be-
gan giving directions about kit Of
mackerel that was to be sent to old Mrs.
Murray back in the Red Lick settlement.
Fairfax did not come to the store any
more after that, but remained closely at
j home on The plantation-so closely that
he did not hear Whit Davenport heard
one morning from the trembling lips Of
one of Fairfax's own freed slaves. What
Davenport heard was that posse Of the
enemy was going to raid the neighbor-
hood that night TO capture Major Fair
fax; he would be prisoner well worth
their efforts. 1t was left with Davcn-
port to warn the major OF his danger,
There was no one to whom he could in
trust the task. The long, lonely gallop
through the woods and across the
swollen slougls over the weed
grown fields must be taken by himself.
1t was accomplished safely, and at a
I slower pace he turn d lis tired horses
head homeward. He would have liked
to travel faster, for Fanny would be
I worrying about his net getting home
before dark, but he must have some
mercy on the jdcd beast under him.
Thank God, Fairfax would have plenty
OF time to escape, if he started right
OH. 1t was dark, quite dark, when he
passed from the shelter Of the trees that
marked the boundary line Of Fairfaxs
place cut into the big road-so dark that
Le did not see motionless group oi
Z horscmcn drawn across his pathway un.
- llis own horse SHE'D violently to ont
Aand the single word "Haltp fel
e,ss.ssstsssiy on HE -
wFairfaxs captorsl" lie had onh
Y time to nix it, when the same com
handing voice called qucstioningy t.
him from out the gloom, "Who goe
thcrc9'
"Rando'ph Fairfax" came back clear
ly, unfaltering.y, deiiantIy. A gurgl
of laughter, or IA her chorussed chuckl
of triumph, and then he was competed.
surrounded as the posse hurried hin
forward away from Slowvillc. 1t wa
not of himself that lie was think
ing as he gaIlopcd through tn
somber woods with his captors tina
i n chit. 1t was of the wife, of Fanny
: watching and wondering and weepin
IS through the long hours alone. twas tim
I he was bearing his share Of hardship'
d II It was not for her, he wouldn't mino
II Perhaps, when light came, they'd CIV
g him a chance to write b ok TO her. II
!. couldn't have done diff tcnt F1ir,a
a, was crippled and poorly mounte(
&c These fellows wrs on weIl-fed arm
re horses. 1t wouldn't have done to ris
at the truth. On and on through the nigh
al until, in the gray dawn Of tile da,
~ can p was reached brief respite, the
nc he found himself on board tran'por
! It would he easy enough when he got
II, headquarters TO satisfy the general
he command that he was no military ma
DIS but law abiding civilian, staying
no home and pursuing his i ual vocation
er When he got to headquarters al
it, made his statement his bu, eyes fair
nd flashed lightning to fin l 1t discrcdite
re Ills interlocutors sccpticaI gaze trave,'
ng slowly down one Of Davcnport's shapc
x; legs and up the other Dlyenports o'
gaze followed wondcringly and
all brown checks turned ashcn white.
is told all about it after his release fro
MS, Alton military prison at the close
P'o war.
iph 1T was those red stripes down
cen side of my pants that Fanny was
led proud of. You see, had been in
ley saddle and out Of reach Of buying a
it new pants until l was about out
all 'em. Then Fanny cut up her traveli
rts shawl and, considered as the work
and an amateur, those pants were succC
us if did have to 90 into corner and Il
lcrs round three times before l could get
ees hand into my pocket; but she left
ops bordering of the shawl in for a fal
ma touch. Poor Fanny. suppose
ysis thought she'd make me look like
ICED dier whether or no, and it did the br
ness for me, 1t was more than co
had do to convince those fellows | WASH
II Of major-general at the very least, inst
had of a poor stay -at-home skulk.
all know cur boys weren't much Of don'
Ilic- after the first year"
be7 The gallery at Davenport's is 0
COM more a crowded rendezvous, and
stern warns alternate with crop and pollen
nchs discussions; but whenever the hcroe
semi ( owviIle bepin to blow reminisC